Learn to make a whole chicken right in the Instant Pot with this easy recipe! Made with homemade rotisserie seasoning, this recipe for Instant Pot Whole Chicken results in a tender, juicy, perfectly cooked chicken in under 60 minutes.
This Instant Pot “Rotisserie-Style” Chicken is a favorite Instant Pot Chicken Recipe. It is perfect to enjoy for a family dinner or to use in leftover rotisserie chicken recipes.
I held off making a whole chicken in the Instant Pot for a long time. I love my recipe for Homemade Rotisserie Chicken made in the oven, so why mess with a good thing?.
I am so glad I decided to start experimenting because Instant Pot Whole Chicken is about the best thing since sliced bread. Just like my recipe for Instant Pot Chicken Breast and Instant Pot Chicken Thighs making a whole chicken in the Instant Pot results in the most flavorful, tender, juicy chicken you will ever have. The meat literally falls off the bone and each bite of chicken is oozing with juiciness.
I think this Instant Pot Rotisserie-Style Chicken will become a new family favorite very quickly. It is a simple, economical recipe that is worthy of a Sunday family dinner, or it can be used for any recipe calling for leftover rotisserie chicken or cooked chicken.
Cooking chicken in an Instant Pot or other electric pressure cooker is a quick and easy way to get delicious fall-off-the-bone meat. But when dealing with larger quantities like 5 pounds it can be tricky to get the timing just right. Undercooked chicken is unsafe to eat, but overcooked chicken can turn out dry and stringy.
In this article, we’ll walk through everything you need to know to perfectly cook 5 pounds of chicken in your Instant Pot, including:
- Suggested cook times based on the cut of chicken
- Tips for getting tender, juicy results
- How to adapt for frozen chicken
- Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Suggested Cook Times for 5 Pounds of Chicken
The cook time can vary depending on a few factors, like whether you are working with boneless, skinless breasts versus bone-in thighs. Here are some general time guidelines
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Breasts of chicken that are skinless and have no bones: Cook at high pressure for 8 to 10 minutes. The thicker the breasts, the longer they may need.
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For three to four bone-in chicken breasts, cook at high pressure for 15 to 18 minutes. The meat takes a little longer to cook because the bones and skin keep it warm.
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Chicken thighs without bones (about 10 thighs): Cook at high pressure for 6 to 8 minutes. Thighs of chicken are dark meat that can handle a little more time.
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It takes 18 to 22 minutes at high pressure to cook 5 to 6 chicken thighs with bones in them. Again, the bone will add some time.
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Whole chicken, cut up: Cook for 12-15 minutes at high pressure. A mix of white and dark meat means a time in between.
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Whole chicken, not cut up: Cook for 22-25 minutes at high pressure. The bones and cavity can shield the inner meat.
These cook times should result in safe, cooked chicken that is moist and tender. However, adjust up or down depending on your specific cut of chicken. Older, larger chickens may need a little longer.
Tips for Perfectly Cooked Chicken
To get the very best results when cooking 5 pounds of chicken in your Instant Pot, keep these tips in mind:
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If working with skin-on chicken, score the skin before cooking. This will allow steam to escape instead of puffing up the skin.
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Don’t overfill the pot. Work in batches if needed.
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Add at least 1 cup of liquid to the Instant Pot to build up steam. Chicken broth or water both work.
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Arrange chicken pieces so thicker parts face outward.
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Once pressure cooking is complete, use natural pressure release if you have time. This will ensure the meat is fall-apart tender. Or quick release if you’re in a rush.
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Check that chicken is cooked through by cutting into the thickest part. It should show no pink and juices should run clear.
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Avoid overcooking. Chicken can go from perfect to dry and stringy in just a minute or two.
Handling Frozen Chicken
For safety, chicken needs to be fully thawed before pressure cooking. However, you can quickly thaw chicken in the Instant Pot:
- Place frozen chicken in pot and add 1 cup liquid.
- Close lid and cook on manual/pressure cook mode for 1-2 minutes.
- Use quick release to release the pressure.
- This “steam thawing” should thaw the chicken enough to cook.
- Proceed with full cook time based on cut of chicken.
Thawed or fresh chicken is ideal, but this method allows you to safely cook frozen chicken in a pinch. The steam thawing step ensures the chicken heats evenly for food safety.
Common Mistakes
Cooking 5 pounds of chicken in the Instant Pot is simple, but there are a few mistakes to watch out for:
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Not venting pressure before attempting to open lid. This can be dangerous.
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Quick releasing before chicken is fully cooked through. Always check with a thermometer.
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Overfilling pot, which prevents proper pressurization. Stick to 1/2 to 2/3 full.
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Not adding enough liquid to generate steam and pressure. Add at least 1 cup.
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Neglecting to debone chicken and assuming bones will become tender. Bones stay hard and can pose a choking risk.
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Cooking too little or too long. Follow recipe cook times and adjust as needed.
The Takeaway
Perfectly cooking 5 pounds of chicken in the Instant Pot just takes a little forethought. Follow the suggested cook times for each cut of chicken, use natural release if possible, and ensure chicken reaches safe internal temperatures. With the pressurized environment of the Instant Pot, you can cook moist, tender chicken in a fraction of the time of other methods. In just 20-25 minutes, you can have a family-sized batch of delicious chicken ready to go for meals all week long.
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
This chicken recipe is one of the easiest Instant Pot Recipes you can make. However, if you are new to using an Instant Pot, you may first want to check out How to Use an Instant Pot to familiarize yourself with some of the terms and steps.
- Place the trivet or rack inside the pressure cooker.
- For a 6-quart model, add 1 cup of cold water. For an 8-quart model, add 1-1/2 cups. Be sure to use cold tap water, not warm water. If you use warm water, the Instant Pot will reach pressure faster, which will change how long it takes to cook.
- Put the spice rub ingredients in a small bowl and mix them together.
- Take out any metal or plastic parts from the chicken and the giblets from inside the chicken. Pat dry with a paper towel.
- Sprinkle a lot of the spice rub on top of the chicken, and then use your hands to work it into the skin. Be sure to season both sides of the chicken.
- Put the chicken in the Instant Pot with the breast side facing up on the rack.
- Make sure your hands are clean before putting the lid on the Instant Pot. Make sure the vent knob is in the sealed position.
- Using the manual or pressure cook button, set the cooker to cook on high pressure for 6 minutes per pound. To change the cooking time, press the /- buttons.
- After the cooking time is up, let the pressure drop on its own for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This will ensure the meat stays tender and juicy.
- After 10 minutes of natural release. To quickly let go of any remaining pressure, use a long object to hit the vent knob valve from sealing to venting. Just make sure you don’t touch the valve or you could get burned by the steam.
- Check to see if the chicken has reached 165 degrees F by sticking a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the thigh. Putting the lid back on the pressure cooker and cooking for an extra 2 minutes for every 5 degrees below 165 degrees F if the temperature is below that level.
Note: It is NORMAL for the meat to pull away from the bones after pressure cooking. It will still be incredibly juicy and delicious.
- You can make the skin crispier by putting the chicken on a sheet pan, brushing oil on the skin, and broiling for 2 to 4 minutes, being careful not to burn the chicken.
- Take the chicken out of the pan and set it on a cutting board. This will allow the juices to redistribute.
- Slice the chicken into pieces and serve as desired. Don’t throw away the bones; you’ll need them to make Instant Pot Chicken Stock.
Instant Pot Whole Chicken is perfect for serving as the star of dinner along with a side of Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Carrots or a side salad. This Instant Pot Chicken is perfect for any recipe that calls for cooked chicken. Some of my favorite recipes are shared below.
The length of cooking time for a whole chicken in the Instant Pot will vary based on the size of your chicken. Cook your chicken on HIGH pressure for 6 minutes per pound and let the pressure naturally release for at least 15 to 20 minutes. This will make sure the chicken is perfectly cooked.
- 3-pound chicken: 18 minutes on high pressure
- 4-pound chicken: 24 minutes on high pressure
- 5-pound chicken: 30 minutes on high pressure
To account for an additional 1/2 pound, add an additional d 3 minutes to the total cooking time. Let’s say you want to cook a 3-1/2-pound chicken for 21 minutes (6 minutes per pound, 3 minutes per half a pound).
Please Note: If your chicken seems like it is really thick (the chicken breasts are on the larger side) you may want to increase the time to 7 minutes per pound.
You can use an air fryer lid to crisp up the skin right in the Instant Pot if you have one that fits. After pressure cooking, use an air fryer lid on your pressure cooker to crisp up the skin. Set to 400 degrees F and air fry for 3-4 minutes or until the skin is crispy.
Instant Pot Frozen Whole Chicken
You CAN cook a whole frozen chicken in the Instant Pot if your frozen chicken already has the innards/gizzards removed and has no plastic ties around the feet. You will not be able to remove a plastic insert or bag of gizzards from a frozen chicken. Therefore, you can not put a frozen chicken with either of those items into your pressure cooker.
If you have a chicken that comes without the gizzards or plastic clamp around the legs, you would need to increase the time by 5 minutes per pound, for a total of 11 minutes per pound, with a natural pressure release of 20 minutes.
How to Cook a Whole Chicken in the Instant Pot
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